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"Why do I have small bumps on the underside of my wrist?"

Zocdoc›Answers›Why do I have small bumps on the underside of my wrist?

Question

I am a 19 year old shoe salesman with no history of allergies or any other health complications. This started to show up about 6 months ago and won't go away. The bumps are about the size of a pin head and seem to flare up when I work out and my heart rate increases but at times it seems like they have disappeared. There are quite a few of them, and I am currently not taking any sort of medication.

Answer

There are several different possibilities here. As long as the rash goes away and doesn't worsen it is unlikely to be a serious problem. However, if it worsens, becomes painful, or does not go away you may want to talk to your primary care doctor.
One possibility is eczema. This is an inflammatory reaction of the skin that can be related sometimes to sweating and skin irritation. When eczema spots are just first starting out, they often begin as small blisters under the skin full of clear fluid, and this might be what you are seeing. The treatment of eczema includes keeping the skin moisturized and applying an over the counter steroid cream to the more troublesome areas.
Another possibility is heat rash, which occurs with sweating or heat when the sweat gland ducts get clogged with debris, leading to small red bumps. This is usually self limited, and can improve with skin hygiene or mild gentle exfoliation.
Of course if you are concerned or the symptoms are worsening, it would be best to make an appointment with your primary care doctor or dermatologist to confirm the diagnosis and to see if additional treatment is needed, although this sounds unlikely.

Zocdoc Answers is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor (in the United States) 911 immediately. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. Medical professionals who provide responses to health-related questions are intended third party beneficiaries with certain rights under Zocdoc’s Terms of Service.

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Zocdoc Answers is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor (in the United States) 911 immediately. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. Medical professionals who provide responses to health-related questions are intended third party beneficiaries with certain rights under Zocdoc’s Terms of Service.